Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Dear Church,
You are wildly welcome here. We hear these words spoken regularly at the Grove, and for good reason. Being welcoming is one of our core values and one that we share with all followers of Jesus across space and time. But welcome is one of those things that is often so much easier said than done. What about when you are faced with welcoming someone who asks a lot of you, or someone who has complex needs, or someone who offended you? On the flip side, maybe you struggle to believe that you can truly come as you are with all of your baggage and be received with welcome.
This Sunday we will look at our core value of welcome through Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins. If you are curious about what a story about ten virgins has to do with welcome and hospitality, then you will just have to come and see. My sincere hope is that through this text we will grow together in wisdom that leads to readiness to welcome each other and our neighbors radically and faithfully, which starts with being ready for the arrival of the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God in our midst.
In community,
Stephanie Ann Vander Lugt
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